A relatively intact Alas Pilipinas core receives some big-name additions for the 2025 AVC Nations League.
Familiarity will continue to be key when Alas Pilipinas opens their busy 2025 calendar at the AVC Nations League — formerly known as the AVC Champions League — this June 7 to 14 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
As reported over the weekend, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito has retained much of last year’s core, which won a historic bronze medal on home soil at the iconic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.
Veterans Jia Morado-de Guzman and Dawn Macandili-Catindig will continue to be the elder statesmen, while star hitters Eya Laure, Angel Canino, and Vanie Gandler return as the team’s wing spikers, along with the recently graduated tandem of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
Former Taft Towers Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma, along with Dell Palomata, return to man the middle. Julia Coronel and Jen Nierva, meanwhile, will continue to backstop the veteran pairing of De Guzman and Catindig, respectively.
Behind these holdovers are a total of four new faces for this year’s AVC tilt.
Fresh faces
Of the quartet, the biggest addition to Alas Pilipinas is Adamson star Shaina Nitura, whose historic freshman campaign saw her reset numerous scoring records in the UAAP collegiate volleyball tournaments last Season 87.
A crafty hitter with natural athleticism and immense volleyball IQ, Nitura is expected to add another bout of scoring for the nationals. After all, what she may lack in experience is well compensated for by the raw talent that she brings to the table.
Behind Nitura, there is two-time UAAP Best Setter Lams Lamina, whose steady hands and elite decision-making have been crucial to leading the NU Lady Bulldogs to a total of three UAAP titles within a span of four seasons.
Lamina completes a setting rotation that includes captain de Guzman and current Galeries Tower star Julia Coronel, giving de Brito a fair amount of variety in terms of playmaking throughout the Nations Cup.
Rounding up the UAAP talents is rookie Clarisse Loresco from the FEU Lady Tamaraws, a former juniors’ Best Middle Blocker whose lengthy stature could translate well in the international circuit. More likely than not, being included in the pool alone is already a massive confidence booster for the rookie middle blocker.
Last but not least, is Capital1’s Leila Cruz, one of two natural opposite hitters along with the battle-tested Solomon. Standing at six-foot-one, Cruz can be an asset on net defense aside from her occasional scoring punch as she continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered as a DLSU Lady Spiker.
The storylines to watch
With Alas retaining many of its key players, it shouldn’t be surprising to see the chemistry that this group has formed, whether it’s De Guzman knowing how to unleash the best in her wing spikers and middle blockers, or the libero tandem of Catindig and Nierva taking turns in manning floor defense duties.
But again, it’s also hard not to overlook the newcomers, especially with Nitura getting the chance to showcase her wares on the international stage. This time around, how will she fare against taller and more battle-tested opponents? Or how will De Brito shuffle his outside hitter pool led by potential starters Laure and Canino?
Or perhaps, how will Lamina fare in her own national team debut, where she will likely backstop her idol in De Guzman. Similar to Nitura, how will Lamina’s championship-tested setting translate on an even-higher stage?
Then there is the case of Loresco, who could continue showing signs of her potential when given minutes by de Brito throughout the one-week meet.
Alas Pilipinas will be starting their campaign in Pool B of the Nations Cup, where they will face off against reigning silver medalists Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, and New Zealand.